Thank you for your comments gentlemen!! and I have to admit I have been remiss in not replying to trusty rusty's earlier post.

I would like to think they find a way to resurrect the Australian Masters just as is the case with the Australian Ladies Masters but that both have met a demise (temporary or otherwise) tells the story that it is hard to get and event like that out of the ground.

Perhaps because IMG had an involvement at the World Cup suggested that their focus was on making that happen late last year and that would be competing for sponsorship with any attempt to stage the Australian Masters.

I am not here to defend tournament organisers necessarily but have to say that getting a tournament up and running even with the relatively low purses we provide in this country is a very difficult task.

Even a $1.5 million event might require an overall budget of $4 -$5 million (TV taking perhaps as much as $650,000)

Thank you for your comments gentlemen!! and I have to admit I have been remiss in not replying to trusty rusty's earlier post.

I would like to think they find a way to resurrect the Australian Masters just as is the case with the Australian Ladies Masters but that both have met a demise (temporary or otherwise) tells the story that it is hard to get and event like that out of the ground.

Perhaps because IMG had an involvement at the World Cup suggested that their focus was on making that happen late last year and that would be competing for sponsorship with any attempt to stage the Australian Masters.

I am not here to defend tournament organisers necessarily but have to say that getting a tournament up and running even with the relatively low purses we provide in this country is a very difficult task.

Even a $1.5 million event might require an overall budget of $4 -$5 million (TV taking perhaps as much as $650,000)

I did try to run this by Blacksnake but he was nowhere to be found !

Boss have been really busy the last couple of months.But agree with your comments .

I am really starting to feel bullish regarding Australian Golf Bruce. Reasons are a pending return to Melbourne for the Australian Open, Improved local and world wide economy, gigantic profits from the Majors , need to expand sponsorship within our shores to maintain momentum and finally I think the USA must expand into Australia to create that interest is deserved in our fair country. They owe us.,We provide star players to their circuit and what do we get in return - SFA !! Timing is right for expansion, we have the best courses here in Melbourne and to a lesser extent Sydney. Sponsors must realise that Golf is the way to go to expand product , after all we are a gigantic participation sport in comparison to most sports....... thoughts mate !

I am really starting to feel bullish regarding Australian Golf Bruce. Reasons are a pending return to Melbourne for the Australian Open, Improved local and world wide economy, gigantic profits from the Majors , need to expand sponsorship within our shores to maintain momentum and finally I think the USA must expand into Australia to create that interest is deserved in our fair country. They owe us.,We provide star players to their circuit and what do we get in return - SFA !! Timing is right for expansion, we have the best courses here in Melbourne and to a lesser extent Sydney. Sponsors must realise that Golf is the way to go to expand product , after all we are a gigantic participation sport in comparison to most sports....... thoughts mate !

I am really starting to feel bullish regarding Australian Golf Bruce. Reasons are a pending return to Melbourne for the Australian Open, Improved local and world wide economy, gigantic profits from the Majors , need to expand sponsorship within our shores to maintain momentum and finally I think the USA must expand into Australia to create that interest is deserved in our fair country. They owe us.,We provide star players to their circuit and what do we get in return - SFA !! Timing is right for expansion, we have the best courses here in Melbourne and to a lesser extent Sydney. Sponsors must realise that Golf is the way to go to expand product , after all we are a gigantic participation sport in comparison to most sports....... thoughts mate !

I wish I shared your enthusiasm Vossy.

I like the idea that the Australian Open will be moved to Melbourne but it has elevated its standing since being permanently domiciled in Sydney over the last 12 years for sure especially when you consider the class of many of the winners such as Spieth, Scott, Mcilroy etc. I am not sure the move to Melbourne will necessarily add to its lustre as the Sydney experiment has worked well. It is probably time for another city to get the chance but don't underrate what being in Sydney has done for the event.

But tournament sponsorship will continue to be a battle for anyone trying to put together an event especially without significant government support and state and federal governments are continually being asked to justify their spend on sporting events.

The difficulty in scheduling and marrying that up with the level or prize-money or appearance money the players that would make a difference will 'get out of bed' for will always be an issue for potential tournament organisers.

While flagship events play their part in the growth of the game their role is only part of the solution. The growth in the game comes from support at grass roots level.

The Asia Pacific Amateur event last week in Wellington has played a significant role in the profile of the game in that region but the role the R&A play in supporting the game at the grass roots level is the key in exposing potential beginners to the game .

Don't hold your breath waiting for the PGA Tour to repay what you see as a favour. Their motivation is for their members and it can't be argued that they are providing lucrative opportunities in that regard.

If Australian golfers had the chance to stage 40 tournaments are year worth a minimum of 5.5 million then very few Australians would travel internationally other than for majors. Why would they?

The same reason that Australia is so isolated in the golfing world is the same reason we box above our weight namely that we have to go out and get it so to speak and that determination and toughness carries Australian golfers a long way.

It's amazing Melbourne golfers think Melbourne has some right to The Open - Sydney has done a brilliant job with it and galleries have turned up in big numbers every year.

It'll be good to have it in '20 and '22 but to think Melbourne somehow deserves it over Sydney is silly.

Melbourne golf galleries shouldn't be quickly forgiven for having Lydia Ko put on a clinic of amazing golf in 2015 at Royal Melbourne - and having less than 100 people following her down the 15th fairway on Saturday.

The Vic Open was awful the last few years in Melbourne yet it has thrived at Barwon Heads/13th Beach where the locals properly support golf - as opposed to golf with a superstar attached to it.

It's amazing Melbourne golfers think Melbourne has some right to The Open - Sydney has done a brilliant job with it and galleries have turned up in big numbers every year.

It'll be good to have it in '20 and '22 but to think Melbourne somehow deserves it over Sydney is silly.

Melbourne golf galleries shouldn't be quickly forgiven for having Lydia Ko put on a clinic of amazing golf in 2015 at Royal Melbourne - and having less than 100 people following her down the 15th fairway on Saturday.

The Vic Open was awful the last few years in Melbourne yet it has thrived at Barwon Heads/13th Beach where the locals properly support golf - as opposed to golf with a superstar attached to it.

As a Melbournian, I agree. The NSW government and the golf courses involved in the Aus Open have done extremely well and I don't see why Melbourne should be considered, it's too much of a risk.